Chrysanthemum plant named Teide

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Teide particularly characterized by its classic decorative form, incurving type, pure white ray floret color, diameter across face of capitulum of 69 to 79 mm when fully opened and when grown as a single stem spray cut mum, flowering response under normal temperatures of 63 to 67 days after start of short days, plant height of 91 to 102 cm when grown with 14 long days prior to start of short days, peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing the apical bud and without growth regulator applications, of 8 to 13 cm, peduncle length of the fourth lateral at flowering of 15 to 20 cm, and its terminal spray formation.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Teide.

Teide was originated from a cross made by the inventor, Barrie J.Machin, in a controlled breeding program in Fareham, England, in 1986.

The female parent of Teide was a seedling referred to as Ballerina, aproprietary line used for breeding purposes. Ballerina can be describedas a cut spray mum, decorative type, having a creamy white ray floretcolor, a diameter of capitulum of 76 to 86 mm when fully open, aflowering response to short days of 61 to 63 days, a plant height of 86to 96 cm when grown with 14 long days prior to start of short days, apeduncle length of the first lateral of 8 to 15 cm and of the fourthlateral of 15 to 20 cm, and a terminal spray formation. The abovecharacteristics are based on plants grown in Fareham, England.

The male parent of Teide was a seedling identified as Bandolier, whichcan be described as a cut spray mum, decorative type, having a mauvepink ray floret color, diameter of capitulum of 69 to 79 mm, a floweringresponse of 59 days, a plant height ranging from 76 to 86 cm when grownwith 14 long days prior to start of short days, a peduncle length of thefirst lateral of 4 to 7 cm, and of the fourth lateral of 7 to 15 cm, anda terminal spray formation. The above characteristics are based onplants grown in Fareham, England.

Teide was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Barrie J. Machin in November 1987, in acontrolled environment in Fareham, England.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Ballerina was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in January1988 in a controlled environment in Fareham, England, by Barrie J.Machin.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Teide are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Teide has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature, light intensity and daylength, without, however, anyvariance in the genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Fareham, England under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Teide, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Incurving form.

2. Decorative type.

3. White ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 69 to 79 mm when fully opened,when grown as a single stem spray cut mum.

5. Flowering response under normal temperatures is 63 to 67 days afterstart of short days.

6. Plant height is 91 to 102 cm when grown with 14 long days prior tostart of short days.

7. Peduncle length of the first lateral at flowering after removing theapical bud and without growth regulator applications is 8 to 13 cm;peduncle length of the fourth lateral at flowering is 15 to 20 cm.

8. Terminal spray formation.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Teide, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Teide grown as a single stem spray cutmum.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Teide.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Teide at 3 stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventory, the most similar incomparison to Teide is the cultivar referred to as Snowdon disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,401. Reference is made to attached Chart A, whichcompares certain characteristics of Teide to the same characteristics ofSnowdon. Similar traits are capitulum form and type, and sprayformation. The ray floret color of both cultivars is described as white,but Teide has a brighter white ray floret color than Snowdon. Teide alsohas a smaller diameter capitulum, slighter later flowering response toshort days, and more formal neater flowers.

In the following description color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a single spray cut mum in Fareham, England onAug. 11, 1988.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv. Teide.

Commercial.--Decorative spray cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Incurving.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--69 to 79 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--RHS 155A.

Color (under surface).--RHS 155D.

Shape.--Curving, rounded.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--On disc florets only; very small quantity of pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on disc florets and on all ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--91 to 102 cm when grown in Fareham, England, with 14 long days,prior to start of short days.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface):--137B.

Color (under surface).--137D.

Shape.--See photograph.

    ______________________________________                                        CHART A                                                                       CHARACTERISTIC  TEIDE       SNOWDEN                                           ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                              Pure white  White                                             Capitulum form and                                                                            Incurving   Incurving                                         type            Decorative  Decorative                                        Diameter across 76 to 89 mm 79 to 99 mm                                       face of capitulum                                                             Flowering response                                                                            63 to 67 days                                                                             60 to 63 days                                     Plant height    91 to 102 cm                                                                              111 to 131 cm                                     (14 long days):                                                               Peduncle length:                                                              First lateral   8 to 13 cm  10 to 15 cm                                       Fourth lateral  15 to 20 cm 15 to 20 cm                                       Spray formation Terminal    Terminal                                          COMPARISONS OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                         STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN FAREHAM, ENGLAND                                       ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Teide, as described and illustrated. 